Geographic Information System Skills for Foresters and Natural Resource Managers

Geographic Information System Skills for Foresters and Natural Resource Managers is a resource specifically for developing knowledge and skills concerning GIS as it applies to forestry and natural resource management. GIS knowledge and skills are essential tools of foresters and natural resource managers as GIS is a powerful tool used very frequently by nearly everyone employed in these fields. This book helps readers understand how GIS can effectively be used by professional foresters and land managers to conduct spatial analyses or to address management decisions. Through the topics presented in the twelve chapters of this book, readers will improve their ability to understand GIS data sources, identify GIS data types and quality, perform common spatial analysis processes, create GIS data, produce maps, and ultimately develop the skills necessary to use GIS analysis to answer real-word questions related to forestry and natural resource management. Intermixed within the core content of each chapter, additional ‘reflections, diversions, inspections, and translations’ are provided to encourage readers’ critical thinking and directly apply the methods of the book to their own work, prompting readers to compare concepts presented to real-world applications. Geographic Information System Skills for Foresters and Natural Resource Managers will be of great benefit to GIS users looking to directly apply techniques to real-world data, or foresters and natural resource scientists who use GIS in their research and need a practical reference on techniques, applications and methods. Presents unique reflections, diversions, inspections, and translations within the text to encourage readers’ critical thinking skills Includes a companion website to enhance the reflections, diversions, inspections, and translations with additional resources Designed with examples, discussions and case studies from seasoned natural resource professionals with decades of combined professional experience